SC Talk: “Values vs. Interests in Canadian Foreign Policy: Four Case Studies”, Jon Allen, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy

ABSTRACT: Most governments and all liberal democracies face the difficult task of balancing their countries’, and their particular governments’, values and interests when choosing how to respond to complex foreign policy issues. Four recent Canadian foreign policy dilemmas, the Khashoggi and Meng cases, Russia’s takeover of Crimea and Israel’s threatened annexation of up to thirty per cent of the West Bank, highlight the government’s difficult balancing act. Jon Allen, who spent thirty-six years in Canada’s Foreign Service, ending his career with postings as Canada’s Ambassador to Israel and Spain, will explore these cases and the special interests that pressure the government to decide one way or the other.

BIO: Trained in International Law, Jon Allen joined the then Department of External Affairs in 1981. In addition to postings abroad in Mexico City (1983-85), New Delhi (1989-92) and Washington (1997-2001), he held the positions of Director General, North America Bureau (2001-2004), Minister (Political Affairs) at the Embassy of Canada in Washington (2004-2006) and Assistant Deputy Minister, Americas (2010-2012).

From 2006 to 2010, he was Ambassador of Canada to Israel. From 2012 to 2016 he was Ambassador of Canada to Spain and Andorra. From December 2012 to July 2014, he was Chargé d’affaires to the Holy See.

Mr. Allen is currently a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto; a Senior Fellow at Glendon College, York University; and a Distinguished Fellow of the Canada International Council.

The link to register is https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=JsKqeAMvTUuQN7RtVsVSEKo-DHaj3xRAluk2q6EEM7NUQVpFSVM3UUtFM004QjVETVpSOTZaSVlWWS4u
The deadline to register is Monday, before the talk at 1pm. The Zoom link will be sent to registrants only.